The Marine is a 2006 action film starring professional wrestler John Cena. The film was directed by John Bonito, written by Michelle Gallagher and Alan B. McElroy and produced by Joel Simon.
Produced by the films division of World Wrestling Entertainment, called WWE Films, and distributed in the United States by 20th Century Fox, the film received a PG-13 rating from the MPAA for "intense sequences of violent action, sensuality and language". However an unrated version was released on DVD and Blu-ray.
Being a WWE Film, the movie was continually promoted on all WWE programming (even "Extreme Championship Wrestling" (2006), which is owned by WWE) weeks before and after its release to help boost sales as well as John Cena's popularity.
WWE Superstar John Cena's first starring movie role.
According to a televised interview given by WWF owner Vince McMahon, this film was originally written to star Steve Austin (IV), but contractual negotiations fell through.
During the car chase Manu Bennett says, "This guy is like The Terminator." this is an obvious reference to Robert Patrick (I) who played the T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).
The movie was filmed in Australia.
On the back of the cop car at the ManZe gas station, the bumper reads "Donated by your local drug dealer."
During the scene where Morgan reminisces about his days at summer camp, the banjo song from Deliverance (1972) can be heard in the background.
The gun that Rome carries is a stainless Magnum Research Baby Eagle.
The only beer drank in the movie is "Miller Genuine Draft".
To explain his absence from WWE Television while shooting the movie, they did a storyline where Cena was "stabbed" in a nightclub by Aaron "Jesus" Aguilera, the bodyguard of Cena's rival, Carlito.
In an interview on the DVD Extras, after auditioning Kelly Carlson, Cena said he knew right away that she was the one he wanted to play his wife in the movie.
The movie was actually shot two years before it was released to theaters.
Cena trained with the Marines in preparation for his role in the film.
The uncut version, which is available on DVD, contains some scenes of violence that weren't shown in theaters.
